OKC Thunder get largest win vs New York Knicks

The OKC Thunder continued to host their annual New Year Eve’s contest in downtown Oklahoma City at the Paycom Center as the Thunder welcomed in the New York Knicks who were extremely short-handed. The Oklahoma City Thunder saw Shai Gilgeous-Alexander return to the hardwood after a one-game absence due to ankle soreness, causing him to miss the tilt against the Suns on the second night of a back-to-back.

The Thunder, who saw Josh Giddey, Darius Bazley, Tre Mann, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, and Vit Krejci all miss Friday’s contested battled the Knicks who were without Julius Randle, Kemba Walker, Derrick Rose, Nerlens Noel, Wayne Selden, Danuel House, Jericho Sims, and Luka Samanic.

OKC Thunder get the largest win of their season vs the New York Knicks

The Paycom Center featured a rocking atmosphere, which rookie forward Aaron Wiggins noted postgame. The Oklahoma City Thunder faithful rose to the occasion for the team’s annual tradition, and deserve a hat tip. Wiggins’s praise of the fanbase is welcomed and gives yet another reason to anticipate an eventual return to the postseason so the best atmosphere in the league will be on display yet again.

The Oklahoma City Thunder won 95-80, a 15 point margin of victory thanks to the team blitzing in 18 triples just the 17th time in franchise history the Thunder have nailed 18 or more three-pointers in a contest.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made a triumphant return to the tune of 23 points, four rebounds, four assists, two steals, and a block. One of the better defensive games for the OKC Thunder max contract point guard. SGA struggled shooting from the floor to the tune of 27-percent, nailing just 28-percent of his triples, and only attempting four free throws.

Wiggins, continued his hot streak chipping in 13 points, hauling in four rebounds, dishing out an assist, and swiping a steal on the defensive end. Ty Jerome was the third Thunder player in double-figures going for 11 points off the bench, including 3-for-7 from distance. Jerome worked the glass for five rebounds, handing out five assists as well.

The OKC Thunder won the rebounding battle by one board, forced one more turnover by the Knicks, and limited New York’s range watching them clank 3’s to the tune of 19-percent from beyond the arc.

The Bricktown Boys improve to 13-22, a game out of the tenth seed in the Western Conference inching close to the league’s Play-In tournament. The Thunder are four games ahead of the last-place Houston Rockets, though they are tied for the second-worst record in the jumbled West. Currently sitting fifth in the reverse standings, it has caused OKC fans to panic regarding the status of the tank.